Ameya DalviMay 24, 2023 13:52:55 IST
There were quite a few smartphones vying for a spot on our sub-40K phones list this month. After much deliberation, we chose a shortlist of five. This budget gives you access to some premium features like top-of-the-line processors, high-quality cameras with OIS, excellent displays with high refresh rates, and more. With this budget, you will get phones that are suitable for gamers as well as photography enthusiasts. So let’s take a look at the best options you can get this May under Rs 40,000.
The best phones to buy under Rs 40,000 in India
OnePlus 11R 5G
OnePlus started the year well with the launch of the OnePlus 11 series. While the flagship OnePlus 11 5G is loaded with more bells and whistles, the more affordable 11R 5G isn’t cutting edge either, borrowing a lot of goodies from its higher-end sibling, including the design. This stylish phone looks similar to the 11 5G from the front and back, barring the front-facing camera and the missing Hasselblad logo on the back.
The OnePlus 11R also has a curved display measuring 6.74 inches with an unusual (higher than Full HD) resolution of 2772 x 1240 pixels. Here, you get a standard Fluid AMOLED display instead of the 11’s more premium LTPO3 variant. Compliant with HDR10+, this display supports 10-bit color, 120Hz refresh rate and can get up to 1450 nits of brightness. This phone is powered by Qualcomm’s previous generation flagship Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chip and you get its 8GB RAM and 128GB UFS 3.1 storage option in this budget.
The 50MP main camera with OIS but no Hasselblad color tuning is quite impressive and does most of the heavy lifting. The supporting cast is modest with an 8MP ultra-wide camera and a 2MP macro camera. There is also a 16MP selfie camera. Its 5,000mAh battery can last a day and a half of moderate use, and the 100W charger promises to charge it up in just 25 minutes. The phone runs on OxygenOS 13, which is based on Android 13, and several OS and security updates can be expected in the future.
OnePlus 11R 5G Price in India Rs 39,999 for 8GB RAM/128GB Storage
Motorola Edge 30 Pro 5G
The Motorola Edge 30 Pro 5G has apparently received further price cuts and you can now get it for under 35k. This phone is powered by Qualcomm’s former flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip, which is still extremely powerful and comes with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. Its 6.7-inch Full HD+ OLED display features a 144Hz refresh rate, HDR10+ compliance and can display over a billion colors. You get Corning Gorilla Glass protection from scratches on the front and back.
The Motorola Edge 30 Pro’s photography department is also impressive, starting with a 50MP primary camera with optical image stabilization (OIS) and another 50MP camera for ultra-wide photography; there’s also a 2MP depth sensor. The 60MP front camera is sure to impress the selfie crowd. This phone has a 4800mAh battery that comfortably lasts for about a day and a half with moderate usage and supports 68W fast charging as well as 15W fast wireless charging. This phone launched with Android 12 and the Android 13 update has started. Like most Motorola phones, you get a clean and accessible interface.
Motorola Edge 30 Pro 5G price in India. Rs 34,999 for 8GB RAM/128GB storage
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G is another great option for this budget. This phone has a sleek design and also has an IP68 rating for dust and liquid resistance. It sports a 6.4-inch Full HD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with HDR10+ compliance, 120Hz refresh rate and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus protection. It’s powered by Samsung’s Exynos 2100 chip, which can be found in several of the company’s premium phones. With this budget you can get its 8GB RAM and 128GB internal storage. The phone launched with Android 12 and is upgradable to Android 13 with Samsung’s One UI 5.
The photography department of the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G consists of three cameras on the back, starting with a 12MP primary camera with OIS, a 12MP ultra-wide camera with 123-degree FOV, and an 8MP telephoto camera with OIS that provides 3X optical zoom. magnification. Camera performance is impressive with excellent detail and wide dynamic range, as well as strong low-light performance. The 4,500 mAh battery keeps the phone running for about a day and a half with moderate usage and supports wireless charging as well.
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G price in India. Rs 39,999 for 8GB RAM/128GB storage
iQOO 9 5G
The iQOO 9 5G is for those looking for a solid camera phone with massive storage under 40K. It is powered by Qualcomm’s earlier flagship Snapdragon 888+ chip and at this budget you get its 12GB RAM and 256GB internal storage. Its 6.56-inch HDR10+-compliant Full HD+ AMOLED display has a 120Hz refresh rate and can display a billion color shades. The phone launched Android 12 with FunTouch OS 12 and the company released Android 13 update for the phone a few months ago. Expect more software updates for this device in the future.
The rear camera department is pretty versatile here as well. You get a 48MP main camera with Gimbal stabilization, accompanied by a 13MP ultra-wide camera and a 13MP 50mm professional portrait camera for great portraits. The 16MP front camera is more than adequate for selfies and video calls. The iQOO 9 5G has a 4,350mAh battery that can last a day with moderate usage, and the bundled 120W fast charger claims to fully charge it in just 18 minutes.
iQOO 9 5G Price in India Rs 37,990 for 12GB RAM/256GB Storage
Asus ROG Phone 5s
Here is the surprise applicant in this list. A relatively old phone, but still very relevant for mobile gamers, and certainly a very interesting option at this price point. We are talking about Asus ROG Phone 5s. Apart from the powerful processing hardware, the phone has several optimizations and improvements that give gamers a immersive gaming experience. The phone is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888+ SoC, which is still quite powerful for gaming, and you get 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage.
Its large 6.78-inch Full HD+ 10-bit AMOLED display has a 144Hz refresh rate, HDR10+ compatibility and can get up to 1200 nits of brightness. This phone is mainly aimed at mobile gamers, but it can handle photography quite well thanks to a 64MP main camera, a 13MP ultra-wide camera and a 5MP macro camera. The Asus ROG Phone 5s has a large 6000mAh battery for long gaming sessions, and a 65W fast charger can charge it quickly. This phone launched with Android 11 and Asus’ ROG UI, and the stable update to Android 13 started recently.
Asus ROG Phone 5s Price in India Rs 39,999 for 8GB RAM/128GB Storage